The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-08-17

though you've more enterprising folks
about here than there were three years
ago."
Wall, yes; you see since the sem
mary girls came seems as though it is
livelier about here. You know they
built the seminary the fall you went
away"
Old Doane did her best, and within
half an hour they were in sight of a
white house with green blinds and
lovely trees and immense rose-bushes.
"Jest drive around to the back, Tom;
I've got lot of traps, and don't like
to lug 'em clear through the house."
Having done as he was desired, he
sprang nimbly to the ground, helped
Miss Patty out, then handed her the
bundles, and lastly gave Rose a firm,
good-sized hand and very awkwardly
Knocked off that terrible bonnet. Rose
had united the strings to get little air
during the drive home. The blue eyes
looked defiance at the brown ones,
while the brown ones had look that
pleaded "I'll never do it again, please,
ma'am."
Rose followed Miss Patty into the
house while Tom attended to old
l1OdnCs llblnS Wdo 40 hVhl 10 ~
pin in the little kitchen. The low, stuffed
rockers were inviting, and Rose sat
down. Having found her tongue, she
went into raptures over everything she
saw.
" What a dear little place you have;
so old-fashioned and so home-like. Let
me pare those apples for you; I'll do it
ever so thin" Having finished her
task, she went from one thing to
another, and her bright ways and light
step soon won Miss Patty's esteem, and
Rose had firm friend forever after.
Tom was astonished at the clear,
pretty face as he tipped the bonnet off
her head, and he mentally resolved to
be on his good behavior for, as he told
old Doane out in the barn. " Blue
eyes, brown hair, short and plump, and
will of her own, which shows itself
in their blue depths-full of fun,
though. In fact, Doane, if you'll help
me to manage it and don't tell aunty
until it's all fixed We'll marry her.
That is, of course, providing she isn't
spoken for before this and will have
us, you know"
Doane neighed as though she under
stood everything, and Tom gave her a
whole peck of oats in his absentminded-
ness.
Two-three weeks glided by. Tom
was model of good behavior. Miss
Patty was delighted at the success of
her preserving. Rose learned the art
of butter-making, and she made Tom
pick cherries and in a hundred ways
make himself generally useful; and
though he protested he was sinfully
abused he could not keep out of the
kitchen.
When the three weeks were up Rose
decided to tell Miss Patty that she was
only seminary girl y and that she
must go home to spend the holidays.
"I'll tell you what, Rose, if you and
Tom here will hitch horses you might
stay right along"
Hurrah for Aunt Patty!" shouted
Tom, "what do you say, Rose, will you
be my wife?"
"Oh, Tom Slocum, have not known
you but three weeks; besides, what
would my folks say? And don't you
know, Tom, the old saying that a
change of name and not of letter is a
change for worse and not for better?'
l am only schoolgirl, Tom, and
would make you mad-cap wife"
"I'll soon tame you," laughed Tom.
GIVE will write to father and mother
you see 1 claim them already-and |
don't want my wife to be too learned.
Say yes, Rose, darling, and l will at
tend to all difficulties and the old say.
ing won't be true in our case.'
Aunt Patty, who meanwhile sat ston-
ing cherries, now spoke again: "Ton
is good boy, Rose, and you might dc
great sight worse; sides | want to see
him settled in life before I die"
" Well, you are both so determined
you may have me, Tom, for better OIL
for worse; mind, warn you, it might
be for the worse"
"We'll take all the risks" cried
happy Tom Slocum.
So in just month from that day
Rose Stoneleigh became the bride o
Tom Slocum, and a happier couple
never existed, and her five bridesmaids
were the girls that sat on the verands
of the hotel. Though some of then
are grandmothers now, they never for
get their wild little leader, Rose Stone
leigh.-Maine Farmer.